Capitol Memo June 15 2012

June 15, 2012
Millions of Dollars in Business Assistance Boosts Job Growth in New Jersey, Christie Team Says
In economic development, the headlines are made when big companies decide to move to New Jersey. But the officials spearheading Governor Chris Christie's economic development and business assistance efforts told NJBIA members that keeping the businesses that are already here, no matter what their size, is just as important.
"What we want is to help small businesses stay in New Jersey," said Caren Franzini, CEO of the NJ Economic Development Authority (EDA). "My grandfather (a small business owner) always used to say it's easier to keep the customers you already have than to go out and get new ones. (New Jersey businesses are) our customers. We want to keep you here."
Franzini spoke to more than 100 NJBIA members at the Association's June 13 Meet the Decision Makers - Business Assistance and Economic Development event. She was joined by Michael Van Wagner, executive director of the Business Action Center, and Tracye McDaniel, president and CEO of Choose NJ, a privately funded initiative to market the state to businesses looking to relocate.
Van Wagner said the Business Action Center (BAC) is available to help all businesses in their dealings with state government, such as processing permits, getting low-interest loans, resolving conflicts with government agencies and other assistance. Employers can visit http://www.state.nj.us/njbusiness or call 866-534-7789 to contact the BAC.
The BAC was created by the Christie Administration to provide businesses with a "one-stop shop" in dealing with state government. No matter what employers need from the state, the staff at the BAC can help them find the help they seek. It's designed to improve New Jersey's business climate by making it easier for business to navigate the state bureaucracy. The center has received 60,000 calls since it was created in October 2010 and has counseled 41,000 businesses. "Most of them are small businesses and most of the questions are pretty straightforward," Van Wagner said.
EDA chief executive Franzini said her agency provides financing and incentives to protect existing jobs and to attract new businesses to the state, all with the goal of providing a net benefit to the economy. In the last two-and-a-half years, the agency has awarded $1.8 billion in economic incentives to businesses. These incentive awards generated $5.7 billion in new private investment, created more than 21,000 new permanent jobs, and retained more than 30,000 existing jobs. Franzini stressed that incentives are not paid until the investments are made and the jobs are created. For more information, visit http://www.njeda.com.
As head of Choose NJ, McDaniel's role is to attract new businesses to New Jersey, bringing new jobs and economic activity to the state. She and her staff have identified companies across the country that could be candidates to move here, for example, because their current leases in other states are running out. "We're going to know exactly where these companies are that we've targeted and we're going to go get them," McDaniel said. She said the state's improving business climate has made New Jersey more attractive to outside companies.
New Jersey Added 17,600 Jobs in May
New Jersey employers created 17,600 jobs in May, the largest month-to-month increase in jobs in seven years, the NJ Department of Labor announced on June 14. According to preliminary figures, private-sector employers added 12,900 jobs to their payrolls in May. When new government jobs are added, New Jersey's total nonfarm employment grew by 17,600 jobs.
"Clearly, an improved business climate in the state is giving private-sector employers more confidence to hire new employees," NJBIA President Philip Kirschner said in a written statement. "New Jersey employers like the direction the state is heading."
May was the fourth month so far this year in which jobs have been added. Consistent monthly job gains are an indication that the New Jersey economy is getting stronger, Kirschner said. The job gains came in spite of strong economic headwinds from the economic crisis in Europe and weak employment growth in the United States.
BPU to Consolidate Clean Energy Programs Under One Administrator
The NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is seeking proposals for an administrator to manage its Clean Energy Program, including assistance for business, as part of an effort to streamline its energy conservation initiatives. The agency issued a request for proposals on June 11 and has set an August 24 deadline for receiving bids. The board plans to hire a new administrator before the end of the year.
Currently, three separate contractors are running separate sections of the program, focusing on renewable energy, residential energy efficiency improvements, and commercial, industrial and local government initiatives. Consolidating the programs under one administrator will reduce administrative costs and make it easier for the program to respond to market conditions.
The Clean Energy Program provides over 100,000 rebates annually to businesses and homeowners for buying energy efficient equipment and undertaking energy efficiency and conservation projects. NJBIA supports the consolidation, which was one of the recommendations included in the NJ Energy Master Plan last year. For more information, contact Sara Bluhm.

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June 15, 2012
Millions of Dollars in Business Assistance Boosts Job Growth in New Jersey, Christie Team Says
In economic development, the headlines are made when big companies decide to move to New Jersey. But the officials spearheading Governor Chris Christie's economic development and business assistance efforts told NJBIA members that keeping the businesses that are already here, no matter what their size, is just as important.
"What we want is to help small businesses stay in New Jersey," said Caren Franzini, CEO of the NJ Economic Development Authority (EDA). "My grandfather (a small business owner) always used to say it's easier to keep the customers you already have than to go out and get new ones. (New Jersey businesses are) our customers. We want to keep you here."
Franzini spoke to more than 100 NJBIA members at the Association's June 13 Meet the Decision Makers - Business Assistance and Economic Development event. She was joined by Michael Van Wagner, executive director of the Business Action Center, and Tracye McDaniel, president and CEO of Choose NJ, a privately funded initiative to market the state to businesses looking to relocate.
Van Wagner said the Business Action Center (BAC) is available to help all businesses in their dealings with state government, such as processing permits, getting low-interest loans, resolving conflicts with government agencies and other assistance. Employers can visit http://www.state.nj.us/njbusiness or call 866-534-7789 to contact the BAC.
The BAC was created by the Christie Administration to provide businesses with a "one-stop shop" in dealing with state government. No matter what employers need from the state, the staff at the BAC can help them find the help they seek. It's designed to improve New Jersey's business climate by making it easier for business to navigate the state bureaucracy. The center has received 60,000 calls since it was created in October 2010 and has counseled 41,000 businesses. "Most of them are small businesses and most of the questions are pretty straightforward," Van Wagner said.
EDA chief executive Franzini said her agency provides financing and incentives to protect existing jobs and to attract new businesses to the state, all with the goal of providing a net benefit to the economy. In the last two-and-a-half years, the agency has awarded $1.8 billion in economic incentives to businesses. These incentive awards generated $5.7 billion in new private investment, created more than 21,000 new permanent jobs, and retained more than 30,000 existing jobs. Franzini stressed that incentives are not paid until the investments are made and the jobs are created. For more information, visit http://www.njeda.com.
As head of Choose NJ, McDaniel's role is to attract new businesses to New Jersey, bringing new jobs and economic activity to the state. She and her staff have identified companies across the country that could be candidates to move here, for example, because their current leases in other states are running out. "We're going to know exactly where these companies are that we've targeted and we're going to go get them," McDaniel said. She said the state's improving business climate has made New Jersey more attractive to outside companies.
New Jersey Added 17,600 Jobs in May
New Jersey employers created 17,600 jobs in May, the largest month-to-month increase in jobs in seven years, the NJ Department of Labor announced on June 14. According to preliminary figures, private-sector employers added 12,900 jobs to their payrolls in May. When new government jobs are added, New Jersey's total nonfarm employment grew by 17,600 jobs.
"Clearly, an improved business climate in the state is giving private-sector employers more confidence to hire new employees," NJBIA President Philip Kirschner said in a written statement. "New Jersey employers like the direction the state is heading."
May was the fourth month so far this year in which jobs have been added. Consistent monthly job gains are an indication that the New Jersey economy is getting stronger, Kirschner said. The job gains came in spite of strong economic headwinds from the economic crisis in Europe and weak employment growth in the United States.
BPU to Consolidate Clean Energy Programs Under One Administrator
The NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is seeking proposals for an administrator to manage its Clean Energy Program, including assistance for business, as part of an effort to streamline its energy conservation initiatives. The agency issued a request for proposals on June 11 and has set an August 24 deadline for receiving bids. The board plans to hire a new administrator before the end of the year.
Currently, three separate contractors are running separate sections of the program, focusing on renewable energy, residential energy efficiency improvements, and commercial, industrial and local government initiatives. Consolidating the programs under one administrator will reduce administrative costs and make it easier for the program to respond to market conditions.
The Clean Energy Program provides over 100,000 rebates annually to businesses and homeowners for buying energy efficient equipment and undertaking energy efficiency and conservation projects. NJBIA supports the consolidation, which was one of the recommendations included in the NJ Energy Master Plan last year. For more information, contact Sara Bluhm.